Correlation between carotid intima-media thickness and serum TNF-alpha levels in female with rheumatoid arthritis of different ethnicities: A single-centre experience in Malaysia

Authors

Kek Xin Yi, Bintulu Hospital, 97000 Bintulu, Sarawak, MalaysiaFollow
Asrul A. Wahab, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, MalaysiaFollow
Mohamad Norazrin Mohd Abas, Miri Hospital, 98000 Miri, Sarawak, MalaysiaFollow
Siti Amira Kamarul Abdul Wahid, Women and Child Hospital Sabah, 88996 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, MalaysiaFollow
Faridah Hanun Othman, Balik Pulau Hospital, 11500 Balik Pulau, Penang, MalaysiaFollow
Mohd. Shahrir Mohamed Said, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaFollow

Abstract

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a destructive chronic inflammatory disease with intra- and extra-articular manifestations. It is associated with accelerated formation of arteriosclerosis. The aim of this study was to ascertain the correlation between endothelial dysfunction using carotid intima–media thickness (cIMT) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels among the three main ethnic groups in Malaysia: Malay, Chinese, and Indian. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 23 females with RA belonging to three different ethnic groups who were free from cardiovascular risk factors. Blood sample was taken from each patient to measure serum TNF-α level, C-reactive protein (CRP), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). Carotid ultrasonography was performed for cIMT analysis. The Disease Activity Score (DAS)-28 scoring system was used to assess disease activity. Results: Patients’ median age and disease duration were 47 and 5 years, respectively. No thickened cIMT was found in any of the patients. The duration of disease, TNF-α level, cIMT, DAS-28 CRP, and DAS-28 ESR showed no significant correlations in the different ethnic groups (p > 0.05). Conclusion: This study indicates that cIMT and serum TNF-α levels among females with RA in Malaysia may not be affected by ethnicity.

References

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Recommended Citation

Yi KX, Wahab AA, Abas MM, Wahid SK, Othman FH, Said MM, et al. Correlation between carotid intima-media thickness and serum TNF-alpha levels in female with rheumatoid arthritis of different ethnicities: A single-centre experience in Malaysia. Makara J Health Res. 2019;23.